As part of its approval of more than $83.7 million in grants and loans for 46 projects covering transportation, energy storage, biogas and efficiency programs, the California Energy Commission awarded nearly $9 million to three companies to encourage the manufacturing of heavy-duty electric vehicles and components in California.

The Energy Commission also approved the 2015-2016 Investment Plan Update for its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP). The program develops and deploys innovative technologies that transform California’s fuel and vehicle types to help attain the state’s climate change goals. The annual Investment Plan Update determines priorities and opportunities for the program, describes how funding will complement existing public and private efforts, and guides funding decisions. Recent legislation extended the ARFVTP until 1 January 2024.

The three manufacturing projects were awarded funding under solicitation PON-14-604 (earlier post) and are:

Proterra, Inc. A $3,000,000 grant to design, develop, and operate a state-of-the-art manufacturing line for battery-electric public transit buses in the City of Industry in San Gabriel Valley, California. (Earlier post.) The project will provide a high-tech manufacturing plant in the heart of the Los Angeles region, the largest bus market in the United States.

In December 2014, TransPower showcased a Class 8 pure battery-electric truck which gets 60 to 120 miles of drive time under normal operating conditions, with a hauling capacity of up to 80,000 pounds.

Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. A $2,990,900 grant to purchase equipment and modify a manufacturing facility in Milpitas, California. The equipment and modifications will allow for the production of powertrain components for hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, as well as the conversion of conventional vehicles into hybrid and battery-electric vehicles.

In March, Efficient Drivetrains announced the availability of a Class 3 utility truck based upon its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain that reduces emissions and fuel use by up to 80%. EDI’s utility solution set now spans Class 3 light-duty, Class 4-6 medium-duty, and Class 7-8 heavy-duty commercial work trucks. (Earlier post.)